SARGODHA, Oct 25: Labourers of stone crushing units at Pull-11 have threatened to go on strike against the 'inhuman attitude' of the lease holders of hills and the Mineral department.

Leaders of the Pahar Mazdoor Ittehad Union (PMIU) in a meeting held here on Monday alleged that lease holders with the connivance of Mineral department officials created their monopoly.

They said that lease holders neither provided protective equipment to stone excavators nor paid remuneration in time.

Union leader Muhammad Ilyas Cheema alleged that stone excavators were forced to work even in darkness which had resulted in the deaths of several labourers. He claimed that lease holders were also not paying compensation to the affected families.

Secretary Bashir Ahmed Wafa warned that entire crushing units would be closed for indefinite period if the monopoly of lease holders and corrupt practices of the Mineral department officials were not checked.

He said that Pull-11 crushing units were fulfilling the needs of the whole country and adding millions of rupees every month to the national kitty, but no rescue/emergency centre had been set up for the workers.

Mr Ahmed demanded that a hospital should be set up in the area so that proper treatment could be provided to workers in case of accidents.

The meeting unanimously demanded impartial inquiry and cancellation of leases of hills in Pull-11 and surrounding areas and immediate suspension of all corrupt officials of the Mineral department.

PROTEST: Scores of farmers staged a protest in the Canal Rest House here on Monday and apprised the provincial irrigation minister of the alleged malpractices of the influential landlords.